The passing of Queen Elizabeth II Thursday at 96 has drawn quite the commentary from some areas of the sports world, and it’s also drawn a notable decision from golf’s DP World Tour. On Thursday, that tour (formerly the European Tour) had the first round of its BMW PGA Championship (originally the British PGA Championship) underway at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, England. But they then suspended play partway through Thursday’s rounds following the news of the queen’s death, and then later announced they wouldn’t play Friday either:
Park and Ride facilities will continue to operate to ensure spectators can return home.
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 8, 2022
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 8, 2022
There have been plenty of closures across the UK in the wake of this news of the queen’s passing, with more expected around the planned funeral date of Sept. 19. Specifically in sports, horse racing events in the UK were called off Thursday and Friday, as was Friday’s Test cricket match between England and South Africa and the two Friday matches of the English Football League (the third level of their soccer pyramid). But it’s interesting to see this one in golf.
It’s also notable to see this at a sports tour that’s pan-European rather than specifically British (although this specific event is in England). And it’s perhaps most unusual to see this not only lead to a pause of play Thursday but to cancellation of Friday play as well, with nothing further known on the rest of the tournament. The tour would certainly have taken criticism whichever way they went here, but they did get a lot of criticism over this suspension and cancellation:
An absolute farce
— Darren Keenan (@DarrenKeenan1) September 8, 2022
Sorry but this is a poor decision. You can continue to show respect and remember her whilst continuing a sports tournament.
— Roger Grooms (@rammieib) September 8, 2022
Sod the people who will lose all their money eh? Bet you won’t cough up for their hotel rooms and travel. Driven by fear rather than logic. Pathetic.
— Simon Ridley (@Cell_1919) September 8, 2022
Absolute shambles! Fuel paid for to travel down,ticket paid for, day off work all for it to be called off
— JC14 (@joecorby14) September 8, 2022
However, some others praised the move, including Scottish professional golfer Bradley Neil (who wasn’t playing in this specific tournament):
100% the right move👏👏👏
— Bradley Neil (@BradleyNeil1) September 8, 2022
This tournament is also under some further scrutiny because of more than a dozen LIV Golf players participating. Unlike the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour hasn’t yet banned players who play in LIV events. So this has a rare mix of PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf players. And that led to an interesting comment from DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley Wednesday:
DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley was asked what he would say to a LIV player who won this week's BMW PGA: "I would go up and I would shake his hand and I would say, 'You have beaten 143 players in a 72-hole tournament, which we believe is a true testament to the game of golf."
— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) September 7, 2022
Well, it looks like it’s not going to be a 72-hole tournament anymore.
Update: The tournament announced Friday play will resume Saturday, as a 54-hole event that will wrap up Sunday.
The decision to restart on Saturday has been taken in accordance with Official National Mourning guidance and in consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
…The second round of the BMW PGA Championship will resume at 6.40am on Saturday morning and all original second round tee times will remain the same. Those players who are yet to complete their first round will do so from 7.30am onwards from the place on the golf course where they stopped on Thursday afternoon.
The Rolex Series event will now be contested over 54 holes with the intention to finish on Sunday as scheduled. It is not possible to play the full 72 holes and finish on Monday as we cannot guarantee the staff, facilities or security of the venue on Monday due to the on-going plans for the state funeral.
[DP World Tour on Twitter; DP World Tour logo from Voyages.golf]
